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In a Node.js project that already has Playwright installed, run npx playwright install. That downloads Playwright’s supported Chromium, Firefox, and WebKit browser binaries. To download only selected engines, name them, such as npx playwright install chromium or npx playwright install chromium webkit. Run the command again after upgrading Playwright because each Playwright release expects specific browser versions. See the official Browsers guide for the current option list.
Install Playwright before downloading browsers
The browser installer is included with the Playwright package. In an existing Node.js project, install the package as a development dependency:
npm i -D playwrightIf you are using Playwright Test, install its test package instead:
npm i -D @playwright/testPackage installation and browser-download alternatives are documented in the official Library guide. Run all commands from the project directory that contains the package, so npx resolves the matching Playwright CLI.
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Download the supported browsers
Download all default browsers
After installing Playwright, download its default browser set:
npx playwright installThis obtains Playwright’s supported builds of Chromium, Firefox, and WebKit. These are separate binaries from Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari already installed on your computer.
Download only the engines you need
Pass one or more browser names to reduce download time and disk use:
npx playwright install chromium
npx playwright install firefox
npx playwright install webkit
npx playwright install chromium webkitUse the names exactly as shown. Playwright’s Firefox and WebKit builds are patched for automation; a regular branded Firefox or Safari installation is not an equivalent replacement.
Install Linux operating-system dependencies
On Linux workstations and CI runners, install the browser binaries and required system packages together:
npx playwright install --with-depsIf the browsers are already present and you only need the operating-system libraries, use:
npx playwright install-depsThe latter installs dependencies only; it does not download browser binaries. You may need administrator privileges for system-package installation.
Choose Chromium headless downloads
If your tests use only Chromium’s headless shell and do not set the channel option, this can avoid downloading the full Chromium package:
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npx playwright install --no-shellCheck the current command-line reference when combining these flags with browser names or other options.
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Install behind a proxy or from an internal mirror
Use an HTTPS proxy
Playwright normally downloads browsers from Microsoft’s CDN. Set HTTPS_PROXY in the shell before running the installer when outbound traffic must use a proxy:
HTTPS_PROXY=https://proxy.example.com:8080 npx playwright installOn Windows PowerShell, set the variable first:
$env:HTTPS_PROXY="https://proxy.example.com:8080"
npx playwright installUse your organization’s real proxy URL and authentication method; do not commit credentials to source control.
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Set PLAYWRIGHT_DOWNLOAD_HOST to an internal mirror for all browser downloads:
PLAYWRIGHT_DOWNLOAD_HOST=https://artifacts.example.com/playwright npx playwright installYou can override the host for an individual engine with PLAYWRIGHT_CHROMIUM_DOWNLOAD_HOST, PLAYWRIGHT_FIREFOX_DOWNLOAD_HOST, or PLAYWRIGHT_WEBKIT_DOWNLOAD_HOST. Configure the variables in the environment that performs the installation, including your CI job.
Where Playwright stores browser files
Unless you configure a path, Playwright uses these caches:
| Operating system | Default location |
|---|---|
| Windows | %USERPROFILE%AppDataLocalms-playwright |
| macOS | ~/Library/Caches/ms-playwright |
| Linux | ~/.cache/ms-playwright |
Set PLAYWRIGHT_BROWSERS_PATH before both installation and test execution to share a central cache:
PLAYWRIGHT_BROWSERS_PATH=/opt/playwright-browsers npx playwright install
PLAYWRIGHT_BROWSERS_PATH=/opt/playwright-browsers npx playwright testFor a hermetic install inside the project, set the value to 0 during both steps:
PLAYWRIGHT_BROWSERS_PATH=0 npx playwright install
PLAYWRIGHT_BROWSERS_PATH=0 npx playwright testThat places browsers beneath node_modules/playwright-core/.local-browsers. This setting does not relocate branded Chrome or Edge installations installed through the operating system.
Plan disk space realistically
The official guide describes each browser as taking a few hundred megabytes. Its examples measure about 281 MB for Chromium, 187 MB for Firefox, and 180 MB for WebKit, but these are examples rather than fixed requirements: operating system, architecture, and Playwright release change the size. Installing only the engines your test matrix uses is the simplest way to limit storage.
Verify, update, and remove browser binaries
List what is installed
npx playwright install --listThe output helps identify whether the project’s expected engines and versions are present.
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Repair a version mismatch
Playwright couples each release to specific browser revisions. After changing the Playwright version in package.json or your lockfile, run:
npm install
npx playwright installIf a CI image or developer machine reports that an executable is missing, rerun the install from that same project and environment. Do not assume a browser downloaded for a different Playwright release is compatible.
Remove browsers
Remove browsers associated with the current Playwright installation:
npx playwright uninstallRemove browsers belonging to all Playwright installations on the machine:
npx playwright uninstall --allPlaywright normally garbage-collects browser revisions no longer used by installed clients. To keep old revisions, use --no-remove with the relevant command or set PLAYWRIGHT_SKIP_BROWSER_GC=1.
Use bundled browsers, branded channels, or an executable path?
Bundled Chromium, Firefox, and WebKit
The downloaded Playwright builds are the supported default. They are version-matched and provide consistent automation behavior across machines.
Branded Chrome and Edge
Playwright can work with Chrome and Edge already installed on the computer and provides CLI commands for installing those branded browsers. Their files go to the operating system’s global installation location, which can overwrite an existing installation. Treat that as a machine-wide change and verify your organization’s software-management policy first.
Custom executables
The BrowserType API exposes executablePath, but the API documentation warns to use it with extreme caution. A custom executable may differ from the revision Playwright expects, so prefer the bundled browsers unless you have a specific, controlled requirement. See the BrowserType API reference.
Headed, headless, and headless shell
- Headed: launches a visible browser window and is useful while debugging locally.
- Standard headless: runs without a window using the normal browser build.
- Headless shell: uses Chromium’s shell package;
--only-shellcan reduce downloads when your code does not select achannel.
Choose the mode your launch code actually requests; downloading a shell does not make a test that requires a headed or branded channel work.
Browser choice for cross-browser testing
| Need | Install or configure | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Chromium engine coverage | npx playwright install chromium |
Playwright’s Chromium build, not necessarily system Chrome. |
| Firefox engine coverage | npx playwright install firefox |
Uses Playwright’s patched Firefox build. |
| WebKit engine coverage | npx playwright install webkit |
Uses Playwright’s WebKit build; it is not Safari itself. |
| Chrome or Edge behavior | Use the relevant branded browser channel or installation command. | Global installation location may overwrite an existing installation. |
| Linux CI with minimal downloads | Install only required engines, optionally with --with-deps. |
Confirm OS libraries are available on the runner. |
| Safari-like media behavior | Consider WebKit on macOS. | The official guide notes macOS WebKit is closer to Safari for cases such as video playback; platform differences still matter. |
Reliable Playwright installation in CI
The basic sequence in the official Continuous Integration guide is to install project packages, install browsers and Linux dependencies where needed, then run tests:
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npm ci
npx playwright install --with-deps
npx playwright testShould you cache browser binaries?
Playwright’s CI guidance does not recommend caching by default because restoring a cache can take about as long as downloading the browsers. If your team does cache them, key the cache by the Playwright version so a package upgrade cannot restore incompatible revisions. Also ensure the cache path is the same path used by the test process.
Make installations reproducible
- Commit and use a lockfile with
npm ci. - Run the installer from the same package version that runs the tests.
- Use a fixed
PLAYWRIGHT_BROWSERS_PATHonly when both install and test jobs can access it. - For Linux containers, include
--with-depsor build the required system packages into the image. - Do not mix a global Playwright installation with a project-local one unless you deliberately manage both versions.
Troubleshooting browser downloads
“Executable doesn’t exist” or browser missing
Cause: the install step was skipped, ran for another project, or used a different cache path.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFix: run npx playwright install in the project, then run npx playwright install --list. If you set PLAYWRIGHT_BROWSERS_PATH, set the identical value when launching tests.
Download fails with a proxy or certificate error
Cause: the runner cannot reach Microsoft’s CDN directly, or the proxy intercepts TLS.
Fix: configure HTTPS_PROXY, install your organization’s trusted certificate in the runner, or point PLAYWRIGHT_DOWNLOAD_HOST (or its per-browser override) at an approved mirror. Confirm the mirror contains the revision required by your Playwright version.
Linux launch reports missing shared libraries
Cause: browser files downloaded successfully but OS dependencies are absent.
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Fix: run npx playwright install --with-deps with appropriate privileges, or run npx playwright install-deps and install the listed packages through your image or system package manager.
Tests fail after a Playwright upgrade
Cause: the package now expects different browser revisions.
Fix: reinstall with npx playwright install, rebuild any CI image, and invalidate a cache keyed to the old Playwright version.
Disk space is exhausted
Cause: multiple engines or obsolete revisions occupy the cache.
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Fix: install only required browsers and run npx playwright uninstall. Avoid setting PLAYWRIGHT_SKIP_BROWSER_GC=1 unless retaining old revisions is intentional.
Branded browser is missing or unexpectedly changed
Cause: branded Chrome and Edge use global operating-system locations, unlike Playwright’s cache.
Fix: verify the channel and installation policy, or return to the bundled browser command. Do not use executablePath as a workaround without checking compatibility.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to install browsers globally for every project?
No. Playwright can use its project-managed cache, or you can set PLAYWRIGHT_BROWSERS_PATH for a shared or hermetic location. The install and test processes must use the same setting.
Can Playwright automate the Safari app I already have?
Playwright downloads and uses its supported WebKit build. That is not the same as launching branded Safari; macOS WebKit is the closer choice when Safari-like behavior matters.
What happens to old browser revisions after an upgrade?
Playwright normally removes revisions no longer used by installed clients. Set PLAYWRIGHT_SKIP_BROWSER_GC=1 or use the no-remove option only when you intentionally need to retain them.
Is a browser download required when I only use Playwright’s API types?
No browser binary is needed for code that never launches a browser. Any test or script that calls a browser launch method needs the matching Playwright binary installed.
